Surnames Origin & Last Name Meanings

This interesting and unusual name is of medieval English origin and is a variant of the locational name Taynton from either of two places so called in Gloucester and Oxfordshire, the former Taynton is first recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086 as `Tetinton` and `Tatintone`, as `Teintona` in the Pipe Rolls of 1167, and `Teinton` in the 1220 Fees, with the derivation from the Old English personal name `Taeta` and `tun`, a settlement. The place in Oxfordshire is recorded in the Domesday Book as `Teigtone` and `Tentone` with the derivation of the first element from a British (pre Roman) river name relating to the Welsh `taen`, sprinkling, meaning stream. Amongst the recorded samples in London is the marraige of Eliabeth Tainton and Henry Mould on November 20th 1623 at St. Mary Magdalen, Old Fish Street. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Elline Taintton (christening), which was dated May 8th 1576, St. Olawe, Old Jewry, London, during the reign of Queen Elizabeth 1, `Good Queen Bess`, 1558-1603. Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was known as Poll Tax. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to `develop` often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.